5 steps to the perfect holiday card

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or all of the above, holiday cards are a simple way to share your greetings with family and friends. Before you send your holiday cards off in the mail, go through this entire checklist to make sure that your cards are mailed on time:

1. Update your address book
You may not be sending out cards to the exact same list of people that you did last year. It might also be necessary to change around addresses for friends and family who have moved, and add in addresses of new friends and co-workers.

2. Go shopping for holiday cards
When you're shopping for the perfect holiday cards, you should keep three things in mind: your recipient list, the greeting and the design. If you know your friends and family celebrate a variety of holidays, you don't want anyone feeling left out with a specific holiday greeting, such as "Merry Christmas." Instead, consider a more generic greeting, like "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings." The design you select for your cards should reflect you and your family. You can opt for the classic, traditional route or search for more modern cards. If you're sending these cards to co-workers and employees, you may want to opt for elegant holiday cards with festive greetings that will be professional and appealing to all.

3. Stock up on stamps
Figure out how many holiday cards you're going to send out, and order the same amount of stamps, plus a few extra, just in case you end up mailing a few additional cards. This is a great way to beat the rush and make sure you're prepared to send your invites out on time. You can either order these online or pick them up from the post office. Just make sure you're doing so early enough in advance – at least six weeks before the holiday.

4. Stamp your return address
It can take awhile to handwrite your return address on each envelope. Save yourself time without sacrificing professionalism by using designer stamps. You can create a custom stamp to use on anything from holiday cards to thank you cards.

5. Did you leave anyone out?
It's more than normal to accidentally leave a few people off of your holiday card list. This is why stocking up on extra cards is always a good idea. This way, you won't have to panic and order new cards at the last minute. Choose from any of our holiday assortment packs, which range from elegant stationery to fun winter greetings.